He Gave My Heirloom To His First Love

“Alora…”

Jackie—who worked closely with Rafael Holmes—stepped into the CEO’s office to deliver his latest project report. Unlike most people at Holmes Corp., Jackie knew all about Rafael and Alora Moore’s history. When he spotted Alora just outside the door, he gave her a small nod.

But before he could actually greet her, he caught the scene inside the office and clamped a hand over his mouth. The glance he shot Alora’s way said more than he ever could: pity, sympathy, and a quiet kind of dread.

“I’m sorry, Tess,” Rafael said, looking rattled.

For a second, he’d drifted somewhere far off, standing frozen for several long beats before gently pulling away from Tessa Guzman.

“It’s okay,” Tessa said, a playful blush creeping into her cheeks. “It was just my shoelace.”

At the doorway, Alora’s gaze dropped to Tessa’s shoes—sleek designer sneakers, paired with a crisp white blouse and a soft pink pleated skirt. She looked like the kind of girl who could still be crowned campus queen.

Rafael didn’t say another word. He didn’t need to. His actions said it all. He lifted Tessa onto the desk with careful hands, bent down, and began tying her shoelaces like it was something sacred.

Watching him tend to Tessa’s shoelaces with that kind of devotion, Alora couldn’t stop the memory from hitting her.

Back when they were still tender with each other, Rafael had told her, “Meeting you was the happiest thing in my life. I’ll cherish you and protect you. I’ll never let you suffer or be wronged. I will never betray you.”

Her heart had soared. She’d foolishly believed she was the luckiest girl alive. One Thanksgiving, they’d walked through a park, fingers laced together, when they passed a young couple. The girl had whimsically asked her boyfriend to tie her shoelaces. Alora, half teasing, had asked Rafael if he would do the same for her.

His answer had been dismissive: “There’s no point comparing us to other couples. It’s childish.”

The message had been clear—he wouldn’t. She’d told herself it was just his nature, that men like him didn’t bother with silly little gestures. As long as he cared, she’d been fine.

But now, watching Rafael be so gentle with Tessa, Alora finally understood. Even the coldest men—men like the snow-capped Alps—would bow to tie the shoelaces of the girl they loved. Even the iciest frost would melt for the one they cherished.

Every line he’d drawn with her, every principle he’d claimed to hold, had only existed because he didn’t truly love her.

Maybe this was for the best. They’d both move on. Start new Chapters. Yes. It was for the best.

Alora stood there, still as stone, and watched Rafael finish tying Tessa’s shoelaces. Then he began gently massaging her ankle, their eyes locked in everything neither of them said. The boy she’d once loved had faded into a mere shadow in her heart.

When Tessa threw her arms around Rafael in a playful hug, Alora knew there was nothing left to see. She turned and headed for the stairwell.

“Miss Alora!”

Jackie called after her, worry sharp in his voice. He’d watched Alora give Rafael years of her life.

Alora paused. She heard the sincerity in Jackie’s voice, but she didn’t want to talk about it. Not now.

“I’ve already broken up with Rafael,” she said.

She saw the shock flicker through Jackie’s eyes, but she kept going. “He loves me, does he? Is that why he married Tessa on my birthday? He loves me, does he? Is that why he’s still tangled up with Tessa and can’t let go? His kind of love—I can’t bear it.”

“Miss Alora,” Jackie tried carefully, “is your resignation letter ready? I’ll need to sign off on it for you.”

Jackie, head of the secretarial department, had the authority to sign off on her resignation—not Rafael.

“Are you sure about this? Does Mr. Holmes know?” Jackie asked. He was loyal to Rafael, but even he couldn’t pretend the whole Tessa situation had been fair to Alora.

After leaving Rafael, Alora wanted nothing more to do with Holmes Corp. Over the next few days, she stayed firm. She avoided anything that reminded her of Rafael and poured herself into her voice-over work, which had recently started bringing her unexpected success.

Her mind was made up. Alora was ready to step into her new beginning and leave the shadows of lost love behind.